| First Author | Noben-Trauth N | Year | 1996 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 271 |
| Issue | 5251 | Pages | 987-90 |
| PubMed ID | 8584936 | Mgi Jnum | J:31486 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:78994 | Doi | 10.1126/science.271.5251.987 |
| Citation | Noben-Trauth N, et al. (1996) Susceptibility to Leishmania major infection in interleukin-4-deficient mice [see comments]. Science 271(5251):987-90 |
| abstractText | Interleukin-4 (IL-4), a pleiotropic cytokine, is a major regulator of the immune system and is considered crucial for the development of T helper cell type 2 (TH2) responses. The susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection with Leishmania major has been associated with a polarized TH2 response and an inability to down-modulate IL-4 production. The role of IL-4 in vivo was examined directly by disrupting the IL-4 gene in BALB/c embryonic stem cells. Despite the absence of IL-4, the genetically pure BALB/c mutant mice remained susceptible to L. major infection, showed no signs of lesion healing or parasite clearance, and did not switch to a TH1 phenotype. |
